No, said Aziraphale, it's ineffable.

The Pudgy Cusk-eel, Spectrunculus grandis, is a species of fish in the family Ophidiidae.

Common in deep oceans worldwide, it lives near the ocean floor most often at depths between 2000 and 3000 metres, but known to live as deep as 4800 meters. It is one of the largest bony fishes living below 2000 meters, reaching up to 127 centimeters in length.

1 - observed by ROV Doc Ricketts at 3,000 m in Monterey Canyon, MBARI.

2 - observed on the Davidson Seamount (2516 m depth), NOAA/MBARI.

3 - observed on the Davidson Seamount at 3288 m, NOAA/MBARI.

Star Trek: DS9 - The Die is Cast

Garak interrogates Odo scenes (all screencaps from trekcore.com)

I had always been struck by the very unusual camera angles in these scenes. But it’s only recently that I’ve given it a good deal of thought on how effective they are.

When Garak and the Romulans first enter Odo’s cell, Odo gives a sarcastically defiant, “Oh, no. You’re going to torture me, aren’t you? How I’ve been dreading this. Please have mercy, Garak.”

As Garak expresses admiration for Odo’s sarcasm, they’re both in the frame and close together. But after the Romulans depart and Odo issues a warning to Garak, they’re still in the frame together but there is a distance between them.

When Garak explains how the device in the room will prevent Odo from using his shape-shifting abilities, they no longer appear in any frame together. Furthermore, the camera is looking up at each of them which creates a sense of disconnect and unease.

As Odo deteriorates because he can’t revert to his liquid state, both he and Garak are still separate from each other. And not only is the camera still looking up at each of them, it’s slightly skewed as well which creates a very disturbed feeling.

Finally, Garak breaks down and pleads with Odo to tell him something, anything, even if it’s a lie. And they’re both back together in the frame. The camera view is still a bit skewed but not as much as previously.

I’ve long thought it a shame that DS9 never received any awards for the writing and acting. But it also deserved credit for the directing as well.

S06E03 - “Sons and Daughters”

dressedtothedsnines

Lock up your sons and daughters and horses! Of course it’s hard to… y'know what I don’t know what rhymes with “Klingon armor”.

wa’… singular sensation

Five new recruits for the Rotarran, looking like the headshot pose from A Chorus Line. Won’t forget, can’t regret, what I did for HONOR.

Alexander Rozhenko… my name is Alexander Rozhenko… and there’s a million things I didn’t know…

Alexander, all grown up and looking to rival Anakin Skywalker for the Sullen Pout award. I guess I’d pout too if I had my head stuck through a– hey, I have that exact heating pad! Except mine doesn’t have a neck hole. That might be really good for shoulder aches, actually.

Getting this off my chest

Jake, honey, for a sec I thought you had a slightly weird new vest, until I realized you’re just sitting backwards in the chair. It’s been long enough that I honestly can’t remember if we’ve seen this shirt/vest combo before, but I think we have. Because there’s a war on, and nobody feels like buying new clothes, and even if they did, THERE’S NO TAILOR NOW OOPS.

Frame… what’s your name?

Awwww. this looks like maybe Alexander made the frame in one of Deanna’s art classes on the Enterprise. Er I mean something something WARRIOR RIDGES.

Workin’ nine to five

Kira’s got that wrap-front 80s power suit on again. I’m starting to think maybe that shade of purple isn’t so great with her hair? Stick to jewel tones, Major. Even so, I am just a little more fond of pantsuits these days then I ever have been before.

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today

I don’t even remember what Dukat is discussing here, but whatever it is, he’s telling it to a roomful of people who are all trying to blend in with the walls. That last guy is literally wearing the carpet. Y'all, Dukat may not the brightest bulb in the warp nacelle, but he’s not that stupid.

Selling furniture for college kids and divorced despots

I merely wish to note that Dukat’s dining room is furnished in 20th century IKEA. I guess at this point, those are antiques, right?

That’s all for now, children of fashion!

tiptree.org

2016 Fellowship Winners Announced « James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award

We are pleased to announce the selection of two Tiptree Fellows: Mia Sereno and Porpentine Charity Heartscape.

porpentine

this is really great news ::>

i remember when i was a kid i’d hide in the very back of the small town library where the scifi/fantasy books were kept, and sit on the floor omnivorously consuming random raggedy paperbacks without the filter of reviews or opinion or taste, and those raw hungry consumptions are still valuable to me.

i read le guin for the first time there, and later got into earthsea (i always loved islands, or any world with discrete zones, more than continents). then years later i read tiptree, then the letters that tiptree and le guin wrote to each other, and it made me really sad that it felt like there was desire that couldn’t be fully expressed once the masc avatar was lifted, with the weight of their lives and culture. so im really happy to be making extremely gay stories and be loving femazoid lifeforms no matter the cost